Talk topotentiallinemen

Credit: AP

CENTER OF ATTENTION: Alabama offensive lineman Barrett Jones answers a question yesterday at the NFL scouting combine. Jones could be a target should the Pats need to replace free agent Sebastian Vollmer.

INDIANAPOLIS — The Patriots are putting in work this week in case they’ve got to find a replacement for right tackle Sebastian Vollmer in April’s draft.

Vollmer is set to become an unrestricted free agent on March 12, and unless the Patriots hit him with the franchise tag for a projected $9.66 million, there is a strong possibility he will be unleashed in the open market.

From there, teams could bid on Vollmer for a heftier left tackle price tag while the Pats will try to retain him at a right tackle cost.

That line of thinking isn’t favorable for a reunion between the Pats and Vollmer, a second-round pick in 2009, which could be why the Patriots have already spent time with some of the 2013 draft class’ most esteemed tackles. While Texas A&M’s Luke Joeckel and Central Michigan’s Eric Fisher could be off the board in the first few picks, the Pats have spent some quality time with the next tiers, which are still undefined.

Colorado’s David Bakhtiari had a formal meeting with the Patriots last night, while Wisconsin’s Ricky Wagner and Syracuse’s Justin Pugh are among the tackles who had earlier interviews with Pats scouts.

Bakhtiari, who declared after his redshirt junior season, was given a second- or third-round grade by the league’s scouting service, and has close ties with the Pats. He was Colorado’s starting right tackle as a redshirt freshman when Nate Solder was the starter on the left side. Solder became Bakhtiari’s closest mentor and had him out to Foxboro for a visit when the Patriots hosted the 49ers in Week 15.

Bakhtiari, who is 6-foot-4 and 299 pounds, doesn’t have ideal size for a tackle but said he had no problem playing any position on the line. That versatility would make him highly endearing for the Patriots.

“I would just love to play,” Bakhtiari said. “Come Sunday, I just want to be on the field, whether that’s left tackle, left guard, center, right guard, right tackle, extra tight end, whatever.”

Third-year lineman Marcus Cannon would get a chance to start at right tackle if the Patriots lose Vollmer. Cannon earned high reviews during his spot start on Thanksgiving last season, and if he continues his incline, the Patriots would ideally like the backup, particularly one who commanded a higher draft pick, to have the versatility to play elsewhere on game day.

Similarly, the Patriots might explore Alabama offensive lineman Barrett Jones, who was the starting left tackle for one national championship team and the starting center for last season’s title squad. Jones said yesterday he was taking care of medical commitments early in Indianapolis, but due to Alabama coach Nick Saban’s ties with Bill Belichick, Jones said he could meet with the Patriots “hopefully soon.”

Pugh is viewed as a first-rounder, and he is very close with Patriots defensive end Chandler Jones, as the two routinely squared off at practice at Syracuse. He already had the Patriots lingo down.

“I don’t know what their policy is about (speaking to the media about) meeting with teams, so I try not to step on any toes,” Pugh said.

Wagner’s status is a little murkier, as he’s been labeled a mid-to-late-round pick, which could be more enticing for the Pats if they want to add playmakers in the earlier rounds.

Either way, the Patriots’ intentions were clear during the first day of the combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. They’re diligently studying tackles. Coach Bill Belichick has commonly used high picks on starting tackles, including a first-rounder on Solder, second- rounders on Matt Light and Vollmer, and a third-rounder on Nick Kaczur.

If Vollmer walks, the Patriots have shown where they’ll look for his replacement, and they’ve begun scouring for that contingency plan at the combine.